Lil Nas X says coming out as gay was 'the scariest moment of his life'

Lil Nas X says it is not his job to be a role model. Photo / Getty Images

Lil Nas X was "afraid" of coming out as gay.

The "Old Town Road" hitmaker came out in June 2019, and has now admitted he was terrified of telling the world he is gay but knew he had to "stand in [his] truth" for the sake of all the other young people like him.

He said: "I was afraid because I knew the world was watching, and all I ever saw for boys like me was judgment and ridicule, but it was because the world was watching, that I knew I had to stand in my truth."

And Nas X – whose real name is Montero Hill – said he hopes society reaches a point where it is "no longer ground-breaking" for LGBTQ artists to find success.

Speaking as he was honoured at the Native Son Awards, he said: "Some people say I am pushing an agenda, and I am. It's called liberation. There's no road map when you're the first to break a barrier, and I hope that one day it's no longer ground-breaking for queer artists to find mainstream success…. Until that day comes, there's work to do and I will continue to do my part."

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old rapper recently insisted it's "not [his] job" to be a good role model.

He said: "At first I felt a sense of responsibility. But now I kind of just don't care. It's not my job. Of course I want to spread good ideals, but I'm not nobody's parents. At the end of the day, I'm just doing me, and hoping everybody else is following the lead, and doing themselves.

"Part of my plan is to make sure people know I'm going to do whatever the f*** I want, when I want to, and if you're mad at it, I'm going to laugh in your face."

Nas X recently released his latest single, "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)", and accompanied it with a note written to his 14-year-old self, in which he reflected on coming out as gay two years ago.

And now, the musician says he initially feared he would have to be "straight passing" if he wanted to continue his career.

He explained: "[I thought that I wouldn't be] allowed to be really sensual or anything ... like, I'm gay but I'm not 'gay' ... like, I'm gay but I have to make sure you feel like I can be straight passing too."